Jacob 6:1 - 6:5

Jacob 6:1 And now, behold, my brethren, as I said unto you that I would prophesy, behold, this is my prophecy—that the things which this prophet Zenos spake, concerning the house of Israel, in the which he likened them unto a tame olive tree, must surely come to pass.

Now Jacob will discourse on Zenos' allegory of the olive tree and how it relates to the history of the house of Israel. Jacob gives testimony that what he will say will happen and that is for sure and for certain. [I heard one religion teacher at BYU once say that it might be helpful to read the interpretations first then go back and read the allegory. I have read Jacob 5 many times but rewriting it in my own words has revealed much that I had missed in my past readings. I am sure that anyone who will make the effort or do this exercise will find the insights that I have found as well.]

Jacob 6:2 And the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon cometh.

Jacob tells us that the "last time" mentioned in the allegory is the last days or our day just before the Second Coming. Our day will be the last time the Lord will go about in the world with His missionaries and try to persuade and encourage with love and patience all the people of this earth to come unto Christ and learn who can teach us to have true and everlasting joy not only in this world but in the world to come.

Jacob 6:3 And how blessed are they who have labored diligently in his vineyard; and how cursed are they who shall be cast out into their own place! And the world shall be burned with fire.

Those who labor in the vineyard (us) will receive blessing innumerable. Those who reject the servants of the Lord and their message will be like the wild branches and will be plucked off and removed to a place where instruction and repentance will be far less easier than it is in mortality. The world or the vineyard will then be raised to a Terrestrial state which will be caused when the earth is cleansed with fire. [Now I think this means that Terrestrial beings give off radiation like resurrected being give off but not so intense. Since the world will become terrestrialized I think it will be giving off radiation that only terrestrial beings can stand and telestial beings cannot and will be destroyed as a result. The spirit cannot be destroyed but its Telestial body can.

Jacob 6:4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

It is notable to Jacob that in spite of the wickedness of the house of Israel with its rejection of their God so many times in their history that He has not forgotten them or even written them completely off. Even though they have turned their backs and have completely rejected their God and his prophets and their teachings, he has worked behind the scenes and those who have not rejected their God will enjoy the bless promised to all who live His gospel.

Jacob 6:5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.

Therefore Jacob pleads with his brethren and sisters of the Nephites that they do not reject the Lord as have the Jews and live the gospel with all there hearts. That they should repent of their sins and seek to live as they know they should. God has never forgotten the house of Israel like they have forgotten him. [Ones wonder why the Lord would brother with these people who have rejected Him so many times. Well it is because of Abraham and the promised that only through him would the blessings of the gospel come to the world’s inhabitants. If you accept the gospel who will become part of Abraham’s family and a descendant even if you are not a literal descendant. To get all the blessing of the next life, you have to be in his house which can be literal or by adoption.]